The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) will comprehensively raise the official fees for trademarks and patents from April 1, 2026. This is the first time the IPO has adjusted its fee standards since 2018 for patent fees, 2016 for design fees, and 1998 for trademark fees, with an average increase of about 25%.

With less than a month left until April 1, how should cross-border sellers lock in the old rates? It is recommended to do the following three things in advance:

① Submit trademark, patent, and design applications before March 31 to lock in application costs

Details of the increase in application fees:

Patent application fees will increase from £60 to £75, a 25% increase

Trademark application fees will increase from £170 to £205, a 21% increase

The fee for a single design patent application will be adjusted from £50 to £60, a 20% increase

② Trademarks and design patents expiring before September 30, 2026, must pay the renewal fee/yearly fee before March 31

The increase in trademark renewal fees (within the term) is 23%

Original fee: £200

Adjusted fee: £245

The yearly fee for design patents will increase

First 5 years: from £70 to £85, a 21% increase

Second 5 years: from £90 to £110, a 22% increase

Third 5 years: from £110 to £135, a 23% increase

Fourth 5 years: from £140 to £170, a 20% increase

③ For invention patents expiring in April or May 2026, be sure to pay the yearly fee before March 31

For UK invention patents, the patent holder must pay an annual fee every year starting from the fifth year from the application date to maintain the validity of the patent, which can be paid within three months before the expiration date. That is to say, paying the annual fee for invention patents expiring in April or May 2026 before March 31 can enjoy the old rate.

Rising costs of rights protection, beware of trademark squatting!

In recent years, there have been frequent incidents of trademark squatting in the UK. Those who have registered US trademarks but not UK trademarks will be squatted, and those who have registered UK trademarks but have not timely registered new category trademarks will also be squatted...

When a trademark is squatted, there are generally two solutions:

1. For trademarks that are being applied for and have not yet been approved for registration, objections can be raised to the trademark office during the announcement period.

2. For trademarks that have been successfully registered, applications for declaration of invalidity or cancellation can be made.

This official fee increase also clearly includes fees for trademark opposition and invalidation applications:

The fee for trademark opposition applications will increase by 25%

Based on prior rights: from £100 to £125

Based on prior use: from £100 to £250

The fee for trademark invalidation applications will increase by 25%

Original fee: £200

Adjusted fee: £250

This will undoubtedly increase the cost of rights protection for sellers. It is recommended that sellers conduct a "self-inspection" of their brands as soon as possible. If squatting is found, it is suggested to submit an objection/invalidation application before the official fee increase to save the cost of rights protection.

Written at the end

With the comprehensive increase in UK trademark and patent official fees imminent, it is now a critical time to lock in the old rates. Seller friends need to seize the opportunity to plan, deploy, and prepare:

1. Sellers who are willing to enter the UK market need to apply for trademarks and patents before the official fees increase to avoid rising operating costs.

2. Sellers who have entered the UK market and have successfully registered their trademarks and patents need to quickly check whether their trademarks and patents need to submit renewal or pay annual fees within this year. If so, complete them as soon as possible.

3. Sellers who are still hesitating about whether to enter the UK market had better make a decision before the increase in trademark and patent official fees and deploy trademark and patent registration.